Seating arrangement



March M, 1967 A. A. WIEBE 3,399,137

S EAT I NG ARRANGEMENT Filed May 13, 1966 A 7T0/2/VEY United States Patent 3,309,137 SEATING ARRANGEMENT Aaron A. Wiebe, Lassen Place, Santa Barbara, Calif. 93105 Filed May 13, 1966, Ser. No. 550,039 10 Claims. or. 297-302 This invention relates to the seating art and more particularly to an improved swiveling and tilting type of seating arrangement.

In many applications, particularly vehicles such as boats, it is often desirable to have a seating arrangement that will swivel or pivot to allow rotation of the seating means to any desired position as well as a tilting action. Preferably, of course, the pivotal or swivel motion should allow full 360 degree rotation and the tilting should provide for tilting in any direction. Such characteristics are particularly required in, for example, seating arrangements utilized on fishing boats by fishermen in large game fishing. For such applications, it is also often desirable that when the seating arrangement is occupied, that it be restrained from swiveling or pivotal motion and that tilting be cushioned to avoid transmission of shock loadings to the occupant thereof.

The above desiderata have not been achieved, to the best of applicants knowledge, in any seating arrangement heretofore available.

Applicants improved seating arrangement provides the above desiderata, in one embodiment of applicants invention, by having a seating arrangement in which there is a chair means having a seating portion, a back portion and, if desired, side arm portions. An upper plate is spaced from the underside of the seat portion and is attached to the chair means. In the preferred embodiment of applicants invention, the upper plate is flexible and yieldingly resilient to function in the manner of a diaphragm spring.

A lower plate is spaced from the upper plate and the lower plate also is flexible and resilient in the manner of a diaphragm type spring.

A pivot means comprising, in this embodiment of applicants invention, a bolt passes through and pivotally couples together the upper plate and the lower plate and the axis of the pivot is approximately aligned in the center of the seat portion of the chair means.

Intermediate the upper plate and the lower plate, there is a flexible, resilient and compressible, elastically deformable means which means has at least one friction surface for frictionally engaging either the upper plate or the lower plate to resist pivotal motion between the chair means and the lower plate. The flexible, resilient, compressible, elastically deformable means acts as both a spring to absorb vertically induced shocks and loads and also, through the friction surface thereof, provides, when desired, resistance to pivotal motion.

In this embodiment of applicants invention, the center of gravity of the chair means when occupied is offset from the axis of the pivot and at least a portion of the flexible, resilient, compressible, elastically deformable means is spaced from the axis of the pivot so that when the chair means is occupied, the friction surface induces a frictional force proportionate to the weight of the occupant and the chair means to resist a pivotal motion. Because of the offset from the axis of the pivot, the comparatively smaller amount of force is required to resist pivotal motion than for the friction surface being closer to the axis of the pivot.

In this embodiment of applicants invention, there is also provided a slight frictional force retarding pivotal motion between the chair means and the lower plate even when the seat is unoccupied. However, this force is made comparatively small so that relatively free pivotal motion of the chair means with respect to the lower plate maybe obtained when the seat is unoccupied and the retarding force merely prevents freely pivoting and swinging motion of the chair which would be undesirable in, for example, boat applications.

The lower plate means is coupled to or a part of a seat support that is attached to the floor. In boat application, it is often desirable to have the lower plate means comprise the upper surface of a gas or fuel tank since diaphragm spring type action is available and provides a double utilization of a component on the boat. When the fuel tank is utilized, it is desired that the entire seating arrangement be fabricated of materials that is free of spark producing components. For example, the chair means and the upper plate may be fabricated from fiber, reinforced, thermosetting plastic and the flexible, resilient, compressible, elastically deformable means may be, for example, neoprene.

In utilizing this seating arrangement, it will be appreciated that the chair means may be swiveled when the chair is unoccupied or when the weight of the occupant is removed therefrom. Thus, a fisherman utilizing such a chair may reposition the chair means by rising slightly from the chair means and pivoting the chair means with respect to the lower plate by his knees, thus leaving both hands free for control of the fishing rod. However, when such a fisherman reoccupies the chair means, the frictional forces between the flexible, resilient, compressible, elastically deformable means and either the upper plate or the lower plate resists such pivotal motion and essentially locks the chair in the desired position. Further, the flexible, resilient, compressible, elastically deformable means also act as a cushion or spring to allow tilting motion in any direction.

The above and other objects are explained in greater detail in the following description taken together with the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar elements throughout and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional representation of one embodiment of applicants invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 illustrates another embodiment of applicants invention; and

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of another embodiment of applicants invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, there is shown a seating arrangement generallydesignated 10 according to one embodiment of applicants invention. As shown on FIGURE 1, the seating arrangement 10 comprises a chair means 12 having a back portion 14 and a seat portion 16. If desired, the chair means 12 may also be provided with side arm portions 18.

An upper plate 20 is spaced from the underside 22 of the seat portion 16 and is coupled to the chair means 1 2. As shown on FIGURE 1, the upper plate 20 and the chair means 12 may be unitarily molded from, for example, a fiber reinforced thermosetting plastic material. The upper plate 20 has an upper surface 24 and a lower surface 26, and, in the preferred embodiment of applicants invention, the upper plate 20 is flexible and resilient to act as a diaphragm spring such as a Belleville washer.

A lower plate means 28 having an upper surface 30 and a lower surface 32 is spaced from the upper plate 20 and is pivotally connected thereto by pivot means 34. In this embodiment of applicants invention shown on FIGURE 1, pivot means 34 comprises a bolt 36 passing through a hub portion 38 on the lower surface 32 of a lower plate 28 and restrained by bolt 40 against the upper surface 24 of the upper plate 20. While the details of the pivot means 34 may be varied, it will be 3 appreciated that the pivot means 34 allows full rotation of the chair means 12 with respect to the lower plate 28 through a full 360 degree rotation.

The lower plate 28 is, as shown on FIGURE 1, a part of a support 42 that, for example, may be coupled to the deck surface 44. In some embodiments of applicant's invention, it may be desired that the support 42 be a fuel tank and that the volume 48 internal of support 42 be filled with fuel. In such an embodiment, the seating arrangement 10 is preferably made of non-spark producing components and to protect against the possibility of any spark being produced by rotation of, for example, the bolt 36 a cap means 50 may be coupled to the underside 32 of the lower plate 28 to completely close the connection of the bolt 36 to the lower plate 28. The lower plate 28 is also flexible and resilient as a diaphragm spring and may also be similar to the Belleville washer.

Intermediate the lower plate 28 and the upper plate 20, there is provided a flexible, resilient, elastically deformable means 51 which, in this embodiment of applicants invention, comprises a first pad 52 and a. second pad 54. Thus, the first pad 52 and the second pad 54- are, in this embodiment of applicants invention, annular in shape and concentrically aligned with the axis 56 of the pivot means 34. The first pad means 52 has a lower surface 58 that is a friction surface for frictionally engaging the upper surface 30 of the lower plate 2 8. The frictional force produced by the engagement of the friction surface 58 of the first pad 52 with the upper surface 30 of the lower plate 28 is enough to restrain the chair means 12 from pivotal motion about the axis 56 when the chair means 12 is unoccupied since the first pad 52 and the second pad 54 are bonded or otherwise secured to the lower surface 26 of the upper plate 20. By adjusting the amount of compression obtained in the first pad 52 through the compression applied by the bolt 36', the unoccupied friction force may be varied, as desired.

The second pad 54 has a lower surface 60 that is adapted to frictionally engage the upper surface 30 of the lower plate 28 when the chair means 12 is occupied as, for example, by an occupant indicated on FIGURE 1 by phantom line.

It will be appreciated that when the chair means 12 is so occupied, the first pad 52 is further compressed thereby increasing the force produced by the frictional engagement of the friction surface 58 thereof against the upper surface 30 of the lower plate 28 and, depending upon the tilting of the chair means 12 in any direction.

As shown on FIGURE 2, both the first pad 52 and the second pad 54 are complete annulus pads and therefore both the tilting action and the appropriate frictional restraining action is available independently of the relative position between the lower plate 28 and the chair means 12.

Thus, the second pad -4 has the friction surface 60 thereof spaced from the upper surface 30 of the lower plate for the condition of the chair being unoccupied but, when the chair means 12 is occupied, at least a portion of the friction surface 60 engages the upper surface 30 of the lower plate 20 to resist pivotal motion about the axis 56. Since the second pad 54 is spaced at a greater distance from the axis 56 than the first pad 52, the frictional force produced by the friction surface 60 provides a greater torque when the chair is occupied for resisting such pivotal rotation of the chair means 12.

In general, the weight of the chair means 12 is comparatively small compared to .the weight of an occupant thereof and consequently applicant has found that the combined center of gravity of an occupant of the chair means 12 and the chair means 12, such as indicated by the mark 60, is towards the back portion 14 of the chair means 12 and consequently the axis of operation of the center of gravity 64 is spaced from the axis 56 of the pivot means 34 in the preferred embodiment of applicants invention. Thus, the ilection of the upper plate 20 and/or the lower plate 28 which is of a yield ingly resistant nature as is provided by the diaphragm spring-type action thereof, allows contact between the friction surface 60 and the upper surface 30 of the lower plate 28 to provide a friction force therebetween that essentially locks the chair means 12 with respect to the lower plate 28 in the position selected by the occupant.

In boat applications, applicant has found that the resilient flexibility of the upper plate 20 and lower plate 28, as well as the compressible, elastically deformable nature of the pads 52 and 54 absorb both vertical, fore and aft and lateral shocks that may be transmitted to the chair means 12 and thus provides a much more comfortable ride in vehicles than has heretofore been obtainable.

It will be appreciated that the further the separation between the axis 64 of the center of gravity 62 and the axis 56 of the pivot 34, there will be greater deflection of the upper plate 20 and/or the lower plate 28 and consequently a greater torque can be obtained to resist pivotal motion of the chair means 12 when occupied.

When the chain means 12 is utilized on fishing boats in game fishing, applicant has found that it is often de= sirable to provide additional compressible, elastically de formable pads to provide a greater locking torque .for the prevention of rotation of the chair means 12 with respect to the lower plate 20. Such an arrangement is illustrated in FIGURE 3 wherein there is shown a chair means 12 similar to the chair means 12. The view of FIGURE 3 is similar to the view taken of FIGURE 2 to illustrate the variation in the flexible, compressible, elastically deformable pads. An upper plate 20 has coupled thereto the first pad means 52 and a second pad means 54, which components are similar to the upper plate 20, first pad 52 and second pad 54 illustrated in FIGURES l and 2. In addition, there is also provided a plurality of third pads 70 which are also compressible and elastically deformable and fabricated of materials similar to that utilized for fabricating the first pad 52', second pad 54 which, as noted above, may be neoprene. In the operation of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG- URE 3, the third pad means 70, for the condition of the chair means 12 being unoccupied, is spaced from the lower plate 20*. However, when the chair means 12' was occupied and, in particular, when it was tilted rearwardly towards the back portion 14 thereof, the friction surfaces 72 of the third pad 70 would engage the lower plate 28' and, since there is a greater distance from the pivot 36', than either the first pad 52 or second pad 54, a greater locking torque would be provided.

It will be appreciated that variations in the exact shape and configuration of the first pad 52, second pad 54 or third pad 70 as illustrated variously in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 may be made. That is, first pad 52 and second pad 54 could be made in segmented portions as illustrated for third pad 70, and third pad 70 could be made in a form of the arc of a cylinder. Thus, many variations of the shape of the pads may be made within the scope of applicants invention herein.

FIGURE 4 illustrates another embodiment of applicants invention. As shown thereon, there is a chair means which may be similar to the chair means 12 illustrated in FIGURES l and 2 and is provided with a back portion 82, a seat portion 84, .and if desired, side arm portions 86. An upper plate 88 is coupled to the chair means 80 and is spaced from the lower surface 90 of the seat portion 84. The upper plate 88 has an upper surface 92 and a lower surface 94.

There is also provided a lower plate 96 which, for example, may be similar to the lower plate 28 shown on FIGURES l and 2 and be part of a support structure 98 which also may be similar to the support structure 42.

Both the lower plate 96 and the upper plates 88 are flexible, resilient and of a diaphragm spring-type construction for yieldingly resisting deformation. A lower plate 96 has an upper surface 100 and a lower surface w) 102 and is spaced from the upper plate 88. A pivot means 104 which may be similar to the pivot means 34 shown on FIGURE 2, is provided to pivotally couple the chair means 80 to the lower plate 96 to allow full 360 degree pivotal rotation therebetween. Since the support 98 is generally secured to other structure, the chair means 80 is thus free to pivot about the pivot means 104 in any direction relative to the support means 98. As noted above, the support means 98 may be a part of a fuel tank structure, if desired.

Intermediate the upper surface 100 of the lower plate 96 and lower surface 94 of the upper plate 88, there is provided a flexible, resilient, substantially deformable means 104. As shown on FIGURE 4, the flexible resilient, compressible, elastically deformable means .104 is comprised of a rigid plate means 106 having an upper surface 108 that is a friction surface for frictionally engaging the lower surface 94 of the upper plate 88. Thus, the surface 108 may comprise, for example, a neoprene coating'applied to the rigid plate 106. As shown on FIG- URE 4, the friction surface 108, for the condition of the chair means 80 being unoccupied, frictionally engages a portion of the lower surface 94 of the upper plate 88 in regions adjacent the pivot 104.

A compressible, elastically deformable means such as pad means 110 is coupled to the lower surface 112 of the rigid plate 106 and the upper surface 100 of the lower plate 96 and provides the shock mounting and shock isolation provision for minimizing the transmission of shock from the support 98 to the chair means 80 and for allowing tilting motion of the chair means 80 with respect to the lower plate 96 in any direction.

In this embodiment of applicants invention, a rigid support means 114 may be coupled to the upper surface 100 of the lower plate 96 and bear against the lower surface 112 of the rigid plate 106 to provide spacing therebetween.

The center of gravity 116 of an occupant and the chair means 80 act along the axis 118, which, in this embodiment of applicants invention, is also preferably spaced from the axis of rotation 12% of the pivot means 104.

When the chair means 80 is occupied, there is deflection of the upper plate 83 and/or the lower plate 96 and additional surface areas of the lower surface 94 of the upper plate 88 come in contact with the friction surface 108 of the rigid plate 106 in regions spaced from the pivot means 104. The frictional force thus produced provides a greater torque and essentially locks the chair means 80 in any desired position relative to the lower plate 96 when the chair means 80 is occupied.

The frictional force that is exerted between the lower surface 94 of the upper plate 88 and the upper surface or friction surface 103 of the rigid plate 106 when the chair means 30 is not occupied is adjusted by adjusting the compression therebetween provided by the pivot means 104 .and by the shape of the relative components. Thus, the friction force produced by the condition of the chair means 80 being unoccupied is sufiicient to hold the chair and prevent it from freely pivoting about the pivot means 104 but yielding to forces to rotate the chair means 80 when it is so desired.

This concludes the description of applicants invention of an improved seating arrangement. From the above, it can be seen that applicant has provided an improved seating arrangement in which the chair means may be comparatively easily swiveled or pivoted when unoccupied, but automatically locked in any desired position when occupied. Further, such locking effect is automatically achieved when the chair is occupied and no special operations are required to lock the chair. It will be appreciated that those skilled in the art may find many variations and adaptations of applicants invention herein. Therefore, the following claims are intended to cover all variations and adaptations falling within the true scope and spirit of applicants invention.

6 What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An improved seating arrangement comprising, in

combination:

a chair means having a back portion and a seat portion;

an upper plate having an upper surface spaced from seat portion of said chair means and coupled thereto, and a lower surface;

a lower plate having an upper surface spaced from said lower surface of said upper plate, and a lower surface;

pivot means for pivotally coupling said upper plate to said lower plate to allow pivotal motion of said chair means about the axis of said pivot means relative to said lower plate;

a flexible, resilient, compressible, elastic deformable means intermediate said lower surface of said upper plate and said upper surface of said lower plate and having at least one friction surface for frictionally engaging one of said upper plate and said lower plate to resist said relative pivotal motion.

2. The arrangement defined in claim 1 wherein said upper plates and said lower plates are flexible and resilient.

3. The arrangement defined in claim 2 wherein:

said at least one frictional surface resists said pivotal motion with a first force for the condition of said chair means unoccupied, and resists said pivotal motion with a second force greater than said first force for the condition of said chair means occupied.

4-. The arrangement defined in claim 3 wherein said pivot means engages said upper plate in a spaced apart relationship to the axis of the center of gravity of said chair means and an occupant thereof for the condition of said chair means occupied.

5. The arrangement defined in claim 2 wherein:

said chair means, said upper plate, said lower plate and said compressible, elastic deformable means are fabricated of materials free of spark producing structure.

6. The arrangement defined in claim 2 wherein said compressible, elastically deformable means comprises:

a rigid pleat means intermediate said lower surface of said upper plate and said upper surface of said lower plate and having an upper surface engaging said lower surface of said upper plate at a lower surface spaced from said upper surface of said lower plate, and said upper surface of said rigid plate means comprises said at least one friction surface;

and a flexible, resilient, compressible, elastically deformable pad coupled to said lower surface of said rigid plate means and to said upper surface of said lower plate for yieldingly resisting through compression loads imposed on said chair means.

7. The arrangement defined in claim 6 wherein said compressible, elastically deformable means further cornprises:

a rigid spacer means coupled to said upper surface of said lower plate and frictionally engaging said lower surface of said rigid plate means;

said pad comprises:

an annulus coupled to said rigid plate means and to said upper surface of said lower plate means in spaced apart relationship to said pivot means:

and said upper plate elastically deforms for the condition of said chair means occcupied to provide said frictional engagement between said lower surface of said upper plate and said friction surface of said rigid plate means in regions spaced from said pivot means;

and said pivot means engages said upper plate in a spaced apart relationship to the axis of the center of gravity of said chair means and the occupant thereof for the condition of said chair means occupied.

8. The arrangement defined in claim 2 wherein said compressible, elastically deformable means comprises:

a first compressible, elastically deformable pad having an upper surface coupled to said bottom surface of said upper plate and a lower surface frictionally engaging said upper surface of said lower plate for the condition of said chair means unoccupied;

a second compressible, elastically deformable pad having an upper surface coupled to said lower surface 8 at least one third compressible, elastically deformable pad having an upper surface coupled to said lower surface of said upper plate in regions adjacent said back portion of said chair means, and a lower surface 3 spaced from said upper surface of said lower plate 2 50 3 235 3 g: 213230: g fai d g jgj fii F5533; for a condition of said chair unoccupied, and said condition of Said chair means ur'occup i ed and said lower surfa ce of Sand thud pad {mans fncnonany lower surface of said second compressible, elastically gfi gf i $5 L 3 W: g i fgg deformable pad frictionally engaging said upper sur- 10 3 .3 2 i S i i face of said lower plate for the condition of said chair reairwarr y W Sal ac ,pomon Sal c an means occupied, and said lower surfaces of said first mems to said relatwe plvotal mouon' and said second pads comprising said friction surface for resisting said pivotal motion. References Cited by the Examiner 9. The arrangement defined in claim 8 wherein: 15 UNITED STATES PATENTS said first and said second pads each comprises an annu- A Ins, and said first pad is spaced a first distance from 5222 et a1 2; said pivot means and said second pad is spaced a sec- 2 339953 1/1944 S hl m ond distance greater than said first distance from said r c mman 2 X Pivot means; 29 2,845,922 8/1918 Crarner 297-303 and said pivot means engages said upper plate in a 3,970,343 12/19? GRYRPY 297 302 X spaced apart relationship to the axis or" the center of 3,142,471 7/1904 Silver 297349 X gravity of said chair means and the occupant thereof for the condition of said chair means occupied. 10. The arrangement defined in claim 9 and further comprising:

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primal Examiner. 25 G. O. FINCH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN IMPROVED SEATING ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: A CHAIR MEANS HAVING A BACK PORTION AND A SEAT PORTION; AN UPPER PLATE HAVING AN UPPER SURFACE SPACED FROM SEAT PORTION OF SAID CHAIR MEANS AND COUPLED THERETO, AND A LOWER SURFACE; A LOWER PLATE HAVING AN UPPER SURFACE SPACED FROM SAID LOWER SURFACE OF SAID UPPER PLATE, AND A LOWER SURFACE; PIVOT MEANS FOR PIVOTALLY COUPLING SAID UPPER PLATE TO SAID LOWER PLATE TO ALLOW PIVOTAL MOTION OF SAID CHAIR MEANS ABOUT THE AXIS OF SAID PIVOT MEANS RELATIVE TO SAID LOWER PLATE; A FLEXIBLE, RESILIENT, COMPRESSIBLE, ELASTIC DEFORMABLE MEANS INTERMEDIATE SAID LOWER SURFACE OF SAID UPPER PLATE AND SAID UPPER SURFACE OF SAID LOWER PLATE AND HAVING AT LEAST ONE FRICTION SURFACE FOR FRICTIONALLY ENGAGING ONE OF SAID UPPER PLATE AND SAID LOWER PLATE TO RESIST SAID RELATIVE PIVOTAL MOTION. 